Apparatus for making pulp articles.



PL-EMBL SLET. 29,1903.

. L. KEYES. APPARATUS FOB. MAKING PULP` ARTICLES,

- APPLIOATIONTILED MA 11.20,1901.

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..13\.11: ...KL ...14451. v3.4 f L L PATLNTLD SEPT. 29, 1903,

M. L. KEYES. y 0R MAKING PULP ARTICLES. APPLICATION- FILED MAR. 20, 1901s APPARATUS F 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No MODEL.

. N0."74o,o2`3. A l 4 y PATPNfPPlD-SEPTQZQ, 1903.

` fmnxjsf y APPARATUS P0P MAKING PULP ARTICLES.'

APPLICATION FILED MAB... 20. 1901.

HO MODEL.

-a SHBETSSHE'BT a. Y

/\ 60 @www i i i l ivo. 740,023.

UNITED Srmrns MAQTIN L. Kerne, or CAMBRIDGE, nitssncnnss'r'rs n :resented september' 2e, 199e.

PATENT' Genres. '7 l i' APPARTUS FOR PvllCIblCSl- PULP'ARTICLES.

` SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,023, dated September 29, 1903.

Application filed March 20, 1.901. Serial No. 52,050. (N'omodeu) To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beitknown thatI, MARTIN L. KEYES, a citizen of the `United States, residing vat Oam- I bridge, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in v' Apparatus for Making Pulp Articles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawingss aspecification,

,like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel device for making articles from pulp; audits objects are to provide a novel mechanism for molding the articles and a novelldevice for transferring the shaped or molded article or articles from the mold or Amolds'-` und to combine these two features in a single machine, which is automatic in its action and which is constructed to carry out the steps of the above operations automatically andsuccessively.

The device I preferably employ for molding and shaping,r the articles from the pulp comprisese.traveling mold having a plurality of faces adapted to form the article between them, means to suppiy suitable pulp to the mold, and means to press the moldfaces tov gether at a point farther on in the travel of said mold, whereby the pulp which hasbeen delivered to the mold is pressed into an article of the desired shape. The mold-faces are perforated, and I find it most convenient to supply theliquid pulp tothe mold by immersing one face of the mold in a body of pulp during the traveling movement of said mold and applying suction to said face while it is so immersed, this operation resulting in causing a layer of pulp toadhere to the face. At a point farther on in the travel of the mold the faces of 4the mold are brought together, and the layer ofpulp which has been deposited on one of them is compressedbetiveen them with suicient pressure to properly shape and form the article. y

In the embodiment of my invention hereinafter illustrated and described the complete mold comprises two separable members, euch of which is hollow and has e. perforated molding-face. In orderlo make a commercially'- successful device of this character, I preferably employ a. pluralityofmoldsndin this.

embodiment of my nventionthey are given on or carried bys. movable incid-carrier, which by its movement carries the molds successively or one face of each mold into a body of pulp.

In the form of my invention herein illustrated I have madeiprovision for depositing a layerof pulp on one face only ofeach mold, though my invention would not be departed' from if pulp were supplied to both faces of the mold prior to the final shaping of the article by the compression device. Since in this embodiment of myinvention the pulp is deposited on one face onlylof the moldl will for convenience refer to that face on which itis deposited asthe formingface and will 'refer to the other face of the mold as the compressing-face. I will also refer to that :nember of the mold which carries the formingface'as the former and the other member of the mold as the compressing member. After the forming-face of the mold has been immersed in the pulp and a layer ofpulp deposited thereon by suction and thesaid layer compressed between the two mold-.faces at a point farther on in the travel of the mold, as above described, the two mold-faces are separated from each other. The shaped article is loosened from the faces and is then taken by a transferring deviceand carried to a suitable conveycr, which in turn conveys the article into an oven or other suitable drier for the purpose of drying it. The loosening of the shaped article from the mold-faces as they are separated is accomplished in this embodiment of my invention by a draft of air, which. is forced through the perforated faces. The transferring device is in the form of a suction nozzle, which is at the proper time brought into register with the mold and which operates to take the shaped article by suction from the mold after it has been loosened from the faces thereofand transfer said article to the conveyer. This form of transferring device is preferable, becauseitcau be made to operate upon the wet article without affecting the shape given to it by the mold.

The invention may be embodied in apparatus constructed in various Ways, and in the drawings accompanying this application I have shown one structure includ-ing the features ofthe invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a lOO 1 the layer of'pulp between the molds.

vertical central section of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe mold-carrier, the vat andthe supporting-hub for the mold-carrier bei 'g shown in section. Fig. 3 is n. top plan View? of the device. Figs. 1t and 5 are views of thevalve mechanism for the receiver, Fig. 5 being a section on the line 5 5, Fig. i. Figs. t3 and 7 are details of the two-part mold. Fig. 8 is a detail showing the device for compressing and molding Fig. t) is a detail of the suction-nozzle of the transferring device. Figs. 10 and ll are details hereinafter referred to;l f

.In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings I have shown the mold as having faces ofsnch a shape as to form plates from the pulp; but I wish to have it understood thatmy invention is not-limited to 'chef01-ming of any particular' shape of article, as the particularshapedepends entirely upon the shape which is given to the moldingfaces. Ior m akiug plates or other (lished or hollow articles the molding-faces of each mold will be nesting faces,this being tho form of faces illustratedin the drawings. If,how ever, it is desired to make articles having straight faces, such as plain disks or articles having both sides thereof contiexed-or one Aconcave-convex in cross-sectiomtvould only be necessary to employ a mold having faces of the appropriate shape to foinn the desired article.

In Fig. 7, which shows one fot-snot the mold in cross-section, the members ofthe diold are designated by t and 5., respectivelysaid mem.- bers heilig hollow and having the perforated molding-faces 6 and 7.

'lhe liquid pulp from which the articles are made and in which the mold-faces are immersed can conveniently be contained in a tank or vat il. ln forming thearticle the mold is carried into the vat by a mechanism hereinafter described, and when the face 7 is immersed in the pulp suction is applied thereto for the purpose ofcausing a layer of pulp tobe deposited thereon. As the mold continues its traveling movement the faces are brought together and the pulp layer compressed by a compression device, as will be presently described. Iu or.ler to prevent the pulp layer from being forced out from between the faces during the compression operation, I have shown the mold member 5 as having the annular lip.7,which is adapted to partially em brace the mold member 4, and the latter mold member-is provided with an annular packingring,whi ch makes a tight `ioint with the lip 7*.

One convenient way of securing the packing-ring in place is to confine it between the tapered portion 6b of the face G and retaining-ring t3?. This, however, is only One way in which the requisite tight jointbetween the faces may be secured, and my invention is not limited to this particular construction.

I have -herein shown my invention ernbcdied in a machine which comprises a plurality of moldsppwhich are mounted upon a.

revolving mold-carrier, whereby as the 1nol 1-v the tank A3.

The form of mold-carrier illustrated conlprises a hub E), rotatable about said shaft and vShaft 8, which is'suitablysnpported above having a series of substantially radial hollow arms 11, to the end o'r each vof which-are connected the two members of a mold. It is necessary that the two members of any mold have a movement toward and from each other, which may be accom plished either by making both of them movable-orbygiving one of them a fixed position with reference to the'mo'ld-carf rier andsupporting the other member to'move toward and from the fixed member. It is the latter construction `which 'I have illustrated in this embodiment of my invention. Each mold member 4 is rigid with its supportingarm 11, and the corresponding mold member 5 is pivoted :to said arm.

As herein illustrated each larm 11 is prof vided with a coupling member 13, to which the stem 12 of the corresponding mold member 5 is connected. The stemli of each pivoted mold member i is pivotally connected to the coupling 13, as seen in Figs. l and 6, and said coupling is illustrated as being provided with a seat portion 15, against which the end of the stem 14 is adapted to rest when the shaped article is being forced from the molding-faces by a blast of air, as will be presently described.

1E) designates a circular ring to which each of the mold members 5 are rigidly secured and which forms part of the mold-carrier. Said ring has gear-teeth ou its periphery and forms, in effect, a 'circular' rack,which meshes with the driving-gear 1S upon the drivingshaft. G9. By means of this construction tho rotation of the gear 1S is transmit-ted to the moldpcarrier, as will be obvious.

I have herein illustrated the teeth of the rack as being cnt upon a separate ring 20, which is detachablysecurcd to the main ring 10 in any suitable way, as by screws 2l. With this arrangement of parts the rotation of the mold-carrier will carry the molds into and out of the vat, as will be readily seen from Fig. 2.

The pivotal shaft. S is hollow and nou-rotary and is divided by a partition 25 into two chambers, one of which, 2G, i-s connected by any suitable means with an exhaust apparatus, (not shown,) and theother of which, 2 is connected by means of any suitable pipe xo'o to a compressed-air apparatus. (Not shown.) v The hub 9 of the mold-carrier is provided or port 24, which is preferably so positioned that during the rotation of the mold-carrier theport 23 of any arm is brought-into regisvter with the port 24 just after one face of the vacuum therein the effect of which is to draw or force a layer of material against the face 7 of said mold member. In order to prevent the pulp from being drawn through the apertures inthe face 7, I have covered said face with a suitable reticulated material 30, such as fine wire-gauze.' During this operation of causinga layer of the pulp to adhere to the molding-face 7 the relative positions f the mold members will be seen in Fig. 1, the movable mold member being held separated from the fixed mold member by any such as a spring 3l, secured.

suitable means, to the stein'l of the fixed'mold member and bearing against the stem le' of the movable mold member. K

The port 2l from the vacuum-chamber is elongated, as shown, so that each mold mein` ber 5 is in com municalion with the vacuumvchamber until the arm supporting said mold member is in anapproximately horizontal position,v in which position the mold passes through a .compression device, which operates to force the two mold members together and press the interposed layer of pulp between the molding-faces, thus squeezing or forcing any superfluous moisture out of the pulp, compacting the pulp, and molding it to the desired shape.

In order to maintain a tight joint between the hub 9 and the pivotal shaft 8, I have illustrated the shaft as slightly tapering and the bore in the hub as tapering to fit. 10 designates suitable check-nuts screwed onto the shaft 8 and which serve to keep the hub in proper position. Any wear which occurs between the hub and shaft may be taken up by adjusting the hub longitudinally on the shaft.

In lthe operation above described suction is applied to the face 7 only of each mold, and since the pulp layer is deposited in the first instance on this face I have referred to it as the forming face. The face 6 ofeach mold I have referred to as the compressing face, since it operates to compress the layer of pulp between it and the forming-face. My inven tion, however, would not be departed from if the device were so constructed thatsuction couldV be applied to both faces during the time the mold was immersed in the pulp and pulp thus deposited on both faces.

"he compression device may have any snitable'posilion, though I have herein -shown it as being supported on the upper edge of the tank. (See Fig. 3.) The form of compression device herein illustrated comprises a roll 33, (see Fig. 8,) which is supported in a suitable rigid bearing 3l and bear-s against the Outside face 35 of the ring 1f), thus forming Acrown ofthe swell 13.-

Athe said bolts 42 pase...

has no movementre an abutment for the ring, and a pivotslly-- mounted member 36m-smh is adapted to engage theinember o each mold and force the same against the member 5. trated each member-L as which asthe mold-carrier rotates engages the face of. the pivoted member 36 andcarries said member from :he dotted-line position, Fig'. 8, to the fuli eration obviously pre getherwith an increas I have illus- 'w pressure until the :sees the dead-center .s passed through the line. )Then the moldl compression device, t?. pivoted member 3G drops back into its dote d-line position and against the stop 3S, in which position itis already to operate on the next succeeding mold. The operating-face of the member 36 is con'- `centric to its asis, and in effect, a portion of' a large roll. Such a roll might be substituted .for the member 36 without departing from :21e invention. The member 3U is prefer; pjrieldingly mounted, so that it can give glly it any hard substance gets between the for this purpose I have herein shown it as being pivoted between the branches of the H- shaped holder 0, which n-turn is connected to the rigid support il .through slots in the arms of the holder f" v tween the end of the s port 4.1 and the web of the holder is a blocs. yielding material 43, such asgrubber. spring may be used instead of the rubber S Since a large einen veloped as the meid r 33 and the pivoted e neetthe supports 3i. a: pivoted cam, respeeti: prevents them from s Preferably I vrili p for the purpose-ote compressor mold mem upon the fixed mold inem ing of the molds into: -ompresson device, said guiding-cam 3:? 'c g supported in'any suitable way, as by site.. ing the same to the side of the tank. The arrow in Fig. 2 indihaving the swell 37 ne position, this op.' g the mold-faces to-` said member forms,l

ogrmeans of bolts 42,

melding-faces, and

see Fig. 8,) and beif desired, however.

I'IO

Cates the direclion of movementof themol'dv the mold member 4 ve to the member 5 the face-s of the two n; .n eers travel in substantially parallel paths..

The device .which has been described therefor comprises in its eo rnetion a traveling mold formed `of a piers. y of faces adapted to travel (when not g relatively to each other) in substanialj: parallel paths and toward and from form au article from pulp between them combined with means to supply pulp to said mold and means to compress the mold-faces to-` getler at a point farther on in the travel of the moldg'and'this is all accomplished with- *out stopping the movement of the mold.

vthe two mold members apart and forcing the yarticle olf from the forming-face 7 and subjsequently forcing compressed air into the Aas member 4 for the purpose of loosening the article from the compressing-face 6.

The chamber 27 in the' pivotal shaft S, which, it will be remembered, is connected with the source of lcompressed air, has therein a port 50, so situated as to register with each port 23 in the hub when the corresponding arm is 4in an approximately vertical position or that represented by the arm b in 1Fig. 2. When the port thus registers with any port 23 and the compressed airis admitted to the corresponding mold member 5, it acts through the apertures in the face 7 upon the shaped article with suicient force to force the movable mold member t away from the fixed mold member 5, andthe movable member falls by force of gravity into the horizontal position illustrated in Fig. 1, the shaped article, it will he understood, adheringto the face of the movable mold member. As the movable mold member reaches thehorizontal position in Fig. 1, a current of compressed air is directed into said member and operates to force the shaped article from the moldingface 6.

Referring to Fig. '6, it will be seen that the connection 13 has the port 5l, which is normally closed by the pivoted Hap-valve 52, the said valve having an arm 53 extending therefrom, which is operated on by asuit-able spring 51 to maintain the Valve in the full-line position in Fig. 6, so as to ciose the port 5l, the said spring being stiff enough to hold the vvalve closed even when a vacuum is established iu the arm 11. The stem 14 of the movable member 4 has tue tappen 56 counected thereto, which when the mold member reaches the horizontal position strikes the arm 55, also extended from the pivot of the valve, and operates to shift the valve onto the seat 57, thereby to close communication between the hollow arm 1 1 and the stem 12 of the fixed mold member and open communication between the said hollow arm and the stem 14 of the movable mold member, the end of the stem 14 whenin the horizontal position, it being understood, resting against and making a tight joint with the seat 15 in the connection 13. With the parts in this position the compressed air is admitted to the movable mold member and forces the shaped article therefrom.

1f desired, I may preside 'some suitable device for positively thresring the pivoted mold member into the hor-.sntal position instead of relying on the force of gravity. One example of such a device would comprise an arm to asuitable drying-c` amber.

`Theftlansferrer )Ihv e herein illustrated is a pneumatic de 'ice ai i comprises a pick-olf or suction-nozzle and means to bring said nozzle into register witlsthe face 6 of the mold at about the time the *ticle is loosened from the face, whereby the article' is transferred from the molding,1'i'ac-;-` ro the suction-nozzle,

by thev combined action of the blast of air through the said face andthe suction in the nozzle. ticle is carried by the suction-nozzle to a suitable conveyer.

VIn the best form of myinvention now known to me I provide a se es of pick-ois or snction-nozzles, there b in this embodiment member or its stem,

After being thus transferred the arof my invention one section-nozzle for each mold. Said suction-zazzles are designated by 78 and are carried by arms 60, extending from a suitable hub PE1, which rotates about a hollow standard or s pport 62.

In Fig. 1 the stand d or support is illustrated as being mounted upon a suitable bracket (33, secured to the side of the vat, though it will he understood that any other suitable way of mounting the support 62 may' be employed'. Sleeved over the support 62 is the sleeve ,64, carrying at its lower portion the rack 65, which meshes with a suitable gear on one end of the shaft 65, said shaft having at theiother eed a bevel-gear meshing with the gear GS on the main driveshaft 69, to which shaft the ge. 8, before referred to, is connected. The uv er end of the sleeve Gi is adjust-ably co cted to the hub 6l, preferably by makin with-flanges 70, e one of said flanges in to receive the bo" relative angular ad of the'support 52 A.pered, as illustrated,- and the hub 61 has a. corresponding taper to thus make a tight or Valve joint between the members, and the supcrt G2 has at its upper end two chamberm' communicating byexhaust apparatus 72 communicating pressed-air apparat; The hub 6l is provided with a series o ports 76, communicating with the various ebilow arms G0, respectable pipe 73 with the f sd the other chamber he hub and the sleeve Lieut. The upperend of the chambers 7l.

pipe 75 with the comthe ports of succeeding arms will be brought tively, and the vacuum-chamber 7l has a port 77 so situated as to registerwith the various ports 76 as the arms (30 come into the position of the arms m inv Fig. l with che suction-nozzle 78 ofsaid arms directly over the movable mold Vmember 4.

The suction-nozzle '.78 is illustrated in Fig. 9 and is shown of bellshaped form, it being made of any suitable flexible material, such vas rubber. 'lhe lower end thereof may be stretched over a stitening or spreading ring 100, having an annular groove on its exterior, a hoop or band 101 surrounding said ringand binding the rubber tothe ring 1 00. Preferably the rubber wiibproject below the ring lOO slightly to form lips 102, which engage the pulp article, thus preventing the same from contacting with the ring 100, and the open end of the nozzle will becovered by s. suitable guard, preferably of wiregauze or similar reticnlated material, to prevent the soft pulp article from being drawn up into the nozzle. To preventthe suction-nozzle 78 of the transferring-arms 60 from clashing with the movable member 4 as the latter is forced by the compressed air from its vertical to its horizontal position, I provide each arm GO i with me Self-packing hinged joint si sus use a suitable cani- 80, which is supported in any suitable Way, the said cam engaging the pivoted end of the arm 60 just before the said arm comes into its operative position and `raising the same into the position shown at d Ain Figs. 1 and 3. The cam 80 is so shaped that justas the movable member e is blown or forced into the horizontal position the arm GO drops off from the cam SO, and the spring 110 forces the sution-nozzie into a. horizontal position directly over the face of the mold member 4, as seen in Fig. l. .At this instant the compressed air is directed into the mold member ,i and the ports 76 and 77 are brought into alinement-,so that the air is exhausted from the arm 60, this combined operation resulting in forcing the shaped article from the mold member 4 onto the suction-nozzle 78, where it is held by reason of the vacuum in the arm uni il the transerrer has been rotated sudiciently to bring the said suction-nozzle 7S over the carrier-belt 90. As this point is reached the port 7G registers with s port 91,4 leading to the compressed-air chamber 72, when theshaped article will be blown from the suction-nozrzie 78 onto the conveyer 90.

The con veyer will carry the shaped articles into snysuitable drying-chamber, where they `:iriil become dry and hard and ready for use.

In my preferred form of apparatus the conveyor-belt 90 will be suiiiciently wide so as to` receive one or more pistes or other articles side by side, this construct-ion' being preferable, since it requires a less length of belt. `Where theplaies are thus deposited side by side in rows onV the. belt, it is necessary to regulate the times of registry of the ports 91 with the ports 76 of the arms 6l so that at different poof the offset arms. The vacuum-chamber 71 is also provided with eitheran elongated port adapted-to register with eithersories of ports 76 in the hub, or, as shown in the drawings, said vacuu x11-chamber will'hnve two ports 77, situated one vertically over the other, the upper port 77 being adapted to register with For this purposev each port 'I6 of the upper series as the succeeding stranht arms vcome into position shown at m, Fig. 1, and the lower port 77 being adapted to register with each port 7G of the lower series as the succeeding odset arms come into the position m. l have also provided the compressed-air.chamber with two ports 91, having a different radial position, (see Fig. 5,) the upper port 91 being so situstedas to register with the ports '7G of the straight arms as the suction-nozzles on said arms are over one side of the belt and the lower port being adapted to register with the ports '76 of the offset arms when the suctionnozzles on said arms are over the other side of the belt; The plates or oiherarticles `will therefore be deposited ou the beltin two rows, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be'understood,

IOO

however, that if it is desired to deposit the plaies or other articles in three or more rows on the belt a series of ports 91 will be employed, the ports being properly situated to admit compressed air to the arms when the suetion-nozzles attached to the same are in the proper positions over the belt. The particular arrangement of porisabove described -is not essential to my invention, however, be-

cause many other arrangements which would accomplish the same result might be adopted.

In order to support the arms GO and tie the 'same rigidly together, l preferably connect each of them in some suitable way to the ring 95, which may be suitably supported upon the arms 96, extending from a-collar 97, which is adjustably mounted upon the sleeve Gi.

In order to maintain a valve fit between the hub 6l and the tapered portion of the support 62, I make the sleeve Gt capable of vertical adjustment upon the support G2, the said sleeve being illustrated as supported upon au adjustable collar 99. As wearoccu rs between the hub and the support the collar Elf) maybe lowered and the hub allowed to drop to taire up the wear. i

From the above it will be seen that the form of myinvention herein illustrated comprises a traveling mold having a plurality o faces and the construction is such that during the movement of the moidone of its faces is irnmersed in a body oipulp and a layer of pulp is deposited thereon, and during theiurt-her 75 other series registering with theinner ends layer of pulp is compressed betweenthe faces of the mold and shaped into the desired article. YWith these features I have also combined a pneumatic transferring,r device which is adapted to take the shaped articles from the mold and transfer them to a conveyor.

` While it has been necessary in order to describe the invention to illustrate one embodiment thereof in the drawings, yet since I helieve that I am the first to devise a pulp-mold ing apparatus comprisinga mold having nesting faces between which the article is formed and means whereby one of the faces ofthe mold is immersed in a body of pulp and snction applied thereto while so immersed for the purpose of causing a layer of pulp toadhere to said face and said faces subsequently closed together to compress said layer of pulp and form it into an article of the desired shape, I desire to claim such a pulp-molding apparatus broadly. My invention may also be embodiedtin a pulp-molding machine comprisingI the following instrumentalities, to witz' a. mold having a molding-face, means to move said faceinto and-out from a body of pulp, means to deposit a layer of pulp on said face, and a compressing-face which acts simultaneously on `-a`;l,l\parts of the pulp deposited on the molding face and between which and the mold ngface the article is formed.

It will be obvious tha iua machine having the features above enumbijated the mold need not necessarily have a traveling movement, and therefore I intend thisQa-pplication to cover such a machine whether'themold is a traveling mold or not. It will also be obvious that when the invention is embodied in an apparatus having a traveling mold the mold may be given its traveling movement'in various ways, and as I believe that I amthe first to provide a traveling mold provided with a plurality of faces between 'which the article is formed and which in its traveling movement is supplied witha quantity of pulp and in its further traveling movement is acted uponby a device to compress the pulp between the face thereof, I intend those of the appended claims which refer to a traveling mold to cover this feature broadly irrespective of the particular mechanisms employed for giving the mold its traveling movement.

Ialso believe that I am the first to combine with any form of pulp-molding device a pneumatic transferring device, and I therefore intend to cover this combination broadly.

I also desire to state that it is immaterial to my invention whether the two members of each mold move in unison throughout their entire course or duringa portion onlyof their trave-ling movement, as it is only necessary that they should thus move in unison during the time thatthe compressingoperation takes place.

Having described my invention, what I 1. In a machine for forming articles from i claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent,

pulpin combination, a traveling mold formed 7o of a plurality of faces adapted to form said article between them, a pulp-vat into which one of said mold-faces dips to receive a layer i of pulp, and means to press 'said mold-faces together at a point fartheron in the travel of said mold to form said article. e

2. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a traveling mold comprising. members havingr faces constructed to form between them an individnal article, means -to deposit a layer of 8o pulp on one of saidfaces, means to compress said vlayer between said faces during the bodily movement ot' the mold, whereby an individual article is shaped from the pulp, and means to subsequently discharge each article from said mol 3. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, a series of traveling molds,each havinga pluralty ofcoperati ng faces constructed to form therebetween an individual article, means .to`9o deposit a layer of pulp on one of the faces of each ofthe molds, means to compress the pulp between the faces of the molds whereby a series of individual articles are shaped from the pulp, and means to thereafter discharge the said shaped articles from the molds.

e. In an apparatus of the class described, a

series of traveling molds each having two mold-faces constructed te form therebetween an article, devices acting in succession first to deposit a layer of pulp on one face of each mold, then to com press said layer between the faces of the mold during the movement of the ICO latter, and nally to discharge each article from its mold, these various operations being during the traveling movement of the mold.

5. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a

traveling mold having two meld-faces con-` strncted to form therebetween a pulp article,

lsuction devices to deposita layer of pulp on one ofsaid faces, means to compress said layer between said facesl to form the same lnto a losV performed on each of the molds in succession pulp artice, and means to discharge said article from the mold, these various operations being performed in succession.

6. In an apparatus for making pulp-articles, a pulp-containing vat, a trave-ling mold mem ber havinga mold-face, means to periodically immerse thev said face in a body of pulp, suction devices operating to causea layer of pulp to adhere to said face, a second mold member also having a mold-face, said last-named member traveling in unison with the rstnamed meid member during a portion of the movement of the latter, and means for compressing the layer of pulp between the moldlic faces while the mold members are ia'avelin`g\ in'unison whereby a pulp article is formed.

7. Inanapparatus forformingarticlesfrom ,I3,o\\

pulp, a pulp-containing vat, a traveling mold member having'a mold-face, means to peri- 8 A f v 740,023

. metically--admit compressed air to the members ofthe mold in succession,subsequent to the compressing of the pulp, whereby the shaped article is forced from the mold.

18. In an apparatus of theclass described, a pulp-containing vat, a lmold-carrier supporting a. plurality of molds, each mold com- Aprising a fixed and a movable mold member,

the members of each`mold having faces constructed to form an .article between them, means to immerse one member of each mold in the pulp, means toexhaustthe air from said members while they are thus immersed whereby a layer of pulpis deposited on the faces thereof, means to close the member-s of each mold together whereby the layers of pulp are compressed and shaped into the desired article, and means to automatically admit compressed air to the members of each mold in succession subsequent to the compressing operation, whereby the shaped article is forced from the mold. A

19. In an apparatus formakiua,r pulp articles, a pulp-containing vat, a rotatingmoldcarrier comprising a series of radially-ar ranged arms, a mold carried by each arm,

each mold comprising twovhollow mold meinbers movable relatively to each other and constructed to form an article between them, the rotation ofthe mold-carrier periodically vimmersing one member olfv eachl pair in the pulp, means to exhaust the air from the immersed members of each mold while it is thus immersed whereby a layer of pulp is deposited on the face thereof, means to bring the members of each mold together to com-press thev pulp 'and shape the article, and means to admit compressed air to the members of each mold in succession whereby said members are Vtei-mined point in itsrevolution and a layer of pulp is deposited thereon, and compressed air is subsequently admitted to the mold, combined with means to compress the layer of pulp between the mold members previous to the admission of the compressed air thereto.

21. In an apparatus for making articles from pulp, a mold having a molding-face, a vat to contain pulp, means to move said molding'- face into and out from the pulp,`

` means to depositothe pulp on the moldingface, and compressing means'acting simultaneously on all the parts of the pulp depo sited on themoldiug-faceto compress said' pulp and form the same into au article of the desired shape.

22. In au apparatus -for making articles from pulp, a mold having a molding-face, a vat to contain pulp, moans to mote the molding-face into and ont from the pulp iu the yat, means tir-create a vacu um in the mold a hollow mold, having av perforated face, a

hollow stationary bearing about which the hub rotates, said bearing having a yacuum and a compressed-air chamber, ports leading from said chamber and adaptedto register successively with each hollow arm, whereby as the molds are immersed in the pulp a layer of pulp is deposited thereon by a creation of a vacuum in the mold, and after the mold has been withdrawn from the pulp said layer,

of pulp is forced from the mold.

24. In an apparatus loli the class described, a pulp-containing receptacle, a hollow bearing having,r a vacuum-chamber and acompressed air'chamber, a mold-carrier rotatably mounted thereon, a series'of' molds carried thereby, each mold comprising two hollow mold members having coperat'iugperorated faces, the rotation of the incid-carrier period- ICO ically im mei-sing the molds in the pulp, means to automatically connect one member of each mold to the vacuum-chamber when the mold is immersed in theV pulp whereby a layer of p ulp is deposited on the face thereof, means to compress saidpulplaye'rbetween the mold members, and means to automatically con uect the mold members to the compressed-air chamber whereby the pulp article isforced from between them. j

25. In an apparatus of the class described, a pulp-containing vat, a mold-carrier supported above the vat and on a hollow bearing for rotation'about a horizontal axis, said IXO hollow bearing having a vacuumechamber and a compressed-air chamber` said moldcarrier comprising a series of hollow radial arms, a mold supported on each arm, saidV molds each including two hollow mold members having perforated coperating faces, one member of each mold being iixed to its hollow arm and having a normally open connec tion therewith and the other member being piyoted to said arm, means to automatically establish a connection between each hollow arm and the vacuumfchamber when the mold carried by said arm is immersed in the pulp, whereby a layer of pulp is deposited ou the face of the fixed mold member, means to compress said pulp layer between'the mold meing bers, and means to automatically. establish a "niecesy communication between the compressed-'air chamber and each hollow arm when the said arm is in a substantially vertical position, thev form saidv article .between them, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, and means to press said mold-faces together at a point farther on in the travelof said meld,1to form said article.

27'. In a machine for forming articles from pulp in combination, a rotating mold formed cfa plurality-of faces adapted to travel (when not moving relatively to each other) in substantally parallel paths and form said article between them, means to supply suitable woodg pulp to said mold, and means to press said mold-faces together at a point farther on in the travel of said mold, to form said article.

2h'. In a machine for forming articles from pnlpin combination, a rotating mold formed of a plurality of faces adapted totravel (when v not moving relatively to each other) in substantially parallel paths and form said article y between them, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, and means to press said moldfaces together at a point fartheron in the travel of and without stopping said mold, to form said article.

29. In-a machine for for|ningarticles from pulp in combination, a rotating mold formed of a plurality of faces adapted to travel (when not moving relatively to each other) in substantially parallel paths and form said articles between them, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, and means to press said mold-faces together at a point farther on in the travel of said mold and during the motion of said mold, to form said article.

30. In a machine for fox-mim,r articles from pulp, -iu combination, a rotating mold formed of a plurality of riesling faces adapted to travel (when not moving relatively to each other) in substantially parallel paths and form said article between them, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, and means to press said mold-faces together at a pointfar ther on in the travel otsaid mold and during the motion of said mold to form said article.

3l. ln a machine for forming articles from pulp in combination, a rotating mold formed of a plurality of faces adapted to travel (when notmoving relatively to each other) in substantially parallel paths and form said article between them, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, and means to press said mold-faces together ata point fart-hcr'onrin'U the travel of said meld, to form said article. 32. In a machine for forming articles from pulp in combinatioma traveling mold formed of a. plurality of faces adapted to form said article between them, a pnlp-vat. i,tl0 which said Imold dips, and means to press said ixld` faces together at a point farther on in the ltravel of said mold, to form said article.

j 33. In a nm'chine.forforming articles from pulp in combination, atraveling mold formed of a' plurality of faces vadapted to form said article between them, a vat of wood-pulp into whiclrsaid mold dips, and means to press said mold-faces together at a point farther on in the travel ofsaid mold, to form said article.

34. In a machine for forming articles from pulp in combination, a travelingr mold formed of a plurality of faces adapted to form said article between them, one of said faces being; perforated, means -to supply suitable pulp to said mold, means to press said mold-faces to.-

-gether at a point farther on in the travel of scid mold,to form said article, and a suction device to apply suction to said perforated face ofsaid mold to draw moisture from said pulp.V

35. In a machine for forming articlesfrom pulp in combination, a vertically-rotating carrier bearing a mold formed of a pair of nesting faces adapted to form said article between thcm, means tosupply suitable pulp to said mold, means tofotate said carrier', and

a d-evicevto press said mold-faces together at apoint farther ou in the travel of said mold and during the-motion of said mold, to form said article.

36. In a machine for forming articles from pnlpin combination, a traveling mold formed of a pair of faces adapted to form said article between them, both of said faces being perforated, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, means to press said mold-faces together at a point farther onl in the travel of said mold, to form said article, and a suction device to apply. suction to said perforated faces of said mol'd todraw moisture from said pulp.

37.V In a machine for formingarticles from pulp in combination, a traveling mold formed of a plurality of faces adapted to form said article between them, one of said faces being perforated, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, means to press said ino-ldfaces together at a point farther on in the travel of said mold to form said article, and a deviceto force air through said perforated face to loosen said article from said face.

Ilo

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38. In a machine for forming articles from a suitable pulp in combination, a travelin mold formed of a plurality of mold-faces adapted to form said article between them, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, a pressure device adapted to press seid moldfaces together at a point farther on in the travel of'saidl mold,and means toremovesaid article from said mold.

v39. Ina machine for forming articles from a suitable pulp in combination, a traveling lmold formed of a pluratity of mild-faces adapted to form said artielebetwcen them, means to snpplysuitable pulp to "said mold, a pressure dev-ice adapted to press said moldfaces together at a point farther on in the travel of and without stfpping said mold, and

4 means to, remove said article from said mold.

40. In'a machine for forming articles from a suitable pulp in combination, a traveling mold formed of a plurality of mold-faces adapted to form said articles between them, means to supply suitable pulp'to said mold, a pressure device adapted to press said moldfaces together at a point fartheron in the travelof said mold, and means to remove said article fromsaid mold by a draft of air.

41. In a machine for forming articles from a suitable pulp iu combination, a traveling mold formed of a plurality of mold-faces adapted to form said article between them,

one of said faces being perforated, means to supply suitable pulp to said mold, a pressure device adapted to press said mold-faces together at a point farther on in the travel of said mold, and means to remove said article from said mold by a draft of air through said perforated mold-face.

42. In a pulp-machine in combination al traveling mold formed of a plurality of'separable moidfaces, a pulp-vat and means to v.cause said mold to dip into the pulp therein to introduce a suitable pulp into said. mold,

Aa two-part mold, means to deposit a layer of pulp between the members of said mold, and

a compression device adapted to force the two mold members together and shape the layer of pulp therebetween, said compression device comprising a roll adapted to bear against one mold member, and a pivoted yielding member adapted to engage the other mold mem ber.

45. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of two-part molds, means to force the members of said mold together, said means comprising,lr a roll adapted to bear against one mold member, and a pivoted member having a concentric face adapted to engage the other mold member, said last-named'mold member having a'convexed face whereby as the mold passes between the roll and the member, the latter engages said convex face and forces the mold members together. I'

46. In apulp-machne in combination'a perforated-traveling mold-face,a pulp-vat, means to supply a layer of pulp to said face, a suc tion device to apply' suction thronghsaid perforated face, a second mold-face, and a compressing device to press said faces together in a Adirection transverse to theplane of movement of said first face, to form said article.

47. In a pulp-machine in combination a l traveling mold formed of a plurality of sepa,- rable mold-faces, a pulp-vat, means to cause one of said faces to dip into the pul'pin said vat and receive a layer-cf pulp, and aroller device to press said faces together to form said article.

48. Ina pulp-machine in combination a pulp-vat, a. travclingmcld formed of .a plurality of separable faces, a rotatable shaft car rying said mold, one of said mold-faces being pivoted ou a pivot transverse to said shaft,

means to cause one of rsaid faces to dip into/ the pulp in said vat 1and receive a layer of pulp, and means to press said faces together p to form said article.

49. In an apparatus of the class described,

a series of traveling molds, means wherebyl during thc movement of said molds an indi'- vidual pulp article is formed or shaped by each mold,` and a series of pneumatic pickofs, means to bring each pick-off "into register with a mold, whereby the shaped articles.

are removed from the molds.

50. In an apparatus for molding articles 'from pulp, a traveling mold having a plurality' of facespbetween which the article is formed, means :to cause one-of said faces to dip into a body of pulp to receivefa layer thereof,"4

means to `compress said pulp layer between the faces whereby a pulp article is formed, and a suction device to remove the shaped article from the mold.-

51. In a machine for 'molding articles from pulp, a mold having a plurality of faces betweenv which the article is formed, means to apply a layer of pulp to one of said faces,

ros

means to compress the pulp layer between pulp, a corresponding number of traveling pick-offs, means to move said molds and pickots in synchronism, the molds during their traveling movement being brought succcssively into register with the correspondingr molds' are successively removed therefrom.

54., In an apparatus ofthe class described,

,a plurality of separate traveling molds, each constructed to form an individual article fr'om I IO pick-offs whereby the articles formed by the pulp during a portion of its traveling movement, a corresponding number of traveling Kand pick-offs in synchronism, cach mold dur- --its traveling movement, and means to subse# Llt ing its continued traveling,r movcmcntbei'ng brought into register with the corresponding pick-omaud means to admita jet of compressed air to 'the mold when it is in registerwith the pick-olli` whereby the articles are re- `moved from the molds in succession.

55. I n an apparatus of the class described, two traveling: mold-faces, means to deposit a quantity of pulp on one of said faces during fluently com press said layer of vpul p between said faces to form an article of the desired shape, combined with a pneumatic transfer# ring device comprising, a lsuction nozzle, means to bring` the latter into register with one mold-face, means to create a vacuu m within said suction-nozzle when in such position, and means subsequently toadmit compresed airto said nozzle, whereby the shaped article is forced therefrom. Y

56. In an apparatus of the class described, means to mold n series of individual articles, a conveyor and pneumatic transferring device to transfer the shaped articles from the mold to the conveyor, said transferring device comprising a suction-nozzle, means to move the latter from the mold to the conveyor, means to create a vacuum in said nozzle when it is over the mold,and moans to admit compressed air thereto when it is over the conveyor, whereby the shaped article is lifted from the mold and deposited on the conveyor.

57. In an apparatus for making pulp arti-v 'air to said nozzle when it is desi-red to force the article therefrom.

S. In an apparatus for making:r pulp articles, a series of molding devices each adapted to shape an individual article from pulp, a device to remove the articles from the molds, said device comprising ascries olhollow arms having flexible suction-nozzles at their ends,

means to bring,r said suction-nozzles in succession ovcr the exposed article in the moldingr devices, moans to automatically create a vacuum in each arm as its suction -nozzle comes over mold, and means to automatically admit compressed air to said suctionnozzle to force the article therefrom.

59. In an apparatus of the class described,

` a series of molds adapted to mold an article Afrom pulp, a transferring device to remove the shaped article from the n1olds,said transferring device comprising,r a hub supporting aserieso'f hollow arms, a flexible suctionrkicoza ,i u,

nozzle at the end of cach arm, means to bring the suction-nozzles'in'suecession over the shaped articles in the molds, means to automatically create a vacuum in each arm as its suction-nozzle comes over the article, whereby the article is lifted from the mold, and

moans to automatically admit compressed air to said .suctionmozzle to force the therefrom. n A

60. In an apparatus of the class described,

pulp article a series of molds adaptedv to mold an article nozzle comes over the article, whereby the-- article is lifted from the mold,'a'convey'erbelt, and mechanism to automatically admit compressed air to each arm when the suctionnozzles are over the belt, whereby the article is forced on the belt. f v A 61. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of moldsadapted to mold an article from pulp, a device for removing the articles.

from the molds, 'said device comprising ahollow support having avacuum-ehamber anda compressed-airv chamber, a hub rotatably mounted on said support and havnga series of. hollow arms each provided with a suction-nozzle, a port leading from the vecu? uni-chamber and' adapted to register with each arm as the suction nozzle connected thereto passes over a mold, whereby'the vacu'- um created in the suction-nozzle lifts the article from the mold, a conveyenbelt, and a port leading from the compressed-air chamber and adapted to register with each arm as the suction-nozzle attached thereto passes over the belt. whereby the article is forced onto the belt.

G2. In an apparatus-of the class described, a series of molds, each comprisinga fixed mold member and a movable mold memberpivoted thereto, said mold members being adapted to mold a pulp article therebetween, means to automatically admit compressed air into the two members of each mold in succession, whereby the mold members are separated, and the shaped article forced from the same, a transferring device to take the article from the mold members, said transferring device G3. IIn an apparatus of the class described,v a'series of molds each comprising a fixed mold a member and a movable mold member pivoted `thereto, said mold members being adapted to l mold apulp article therebetweemmeans to automatically admit compressed air into the two members of veach mold in succession, whereby the mold members are separated, and the 'shaped articleforced from the same, a transferring `device to take the article from .the mold members, said transferring` device having a series of suction-nozzles, means to rotate the transferring device to bring the successive suction-nozzles over the pivoted meid members in succession, and means to automatically create a vacuum inveach suctionnozzle as it passes over a pivoted mold member, whereby thearticle forced from said mold member is sustained by the suction-nozzle, a conveyor-belt, and means to destroy the vacuum in each suction-nozzle as it passes over the said belt.

64. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of molds each comprisinga fixed mold member and a movable mold member pivoted thereto, sai-d mold members being adapted to mold a pulp article therebetween,means to automatically ad mit compressed airinto the two members of each mold in succession, wherev by the mold members are separated, and the shaped article forced from the same, a trans` ferring device to take the article from the mold members, said transferring device comprising a support having a vacuum-chamber and a compressed-air chamber, a hub rotatively mounted on said support, and having a series of hollow arms each provided with a suction-nozzle, u. port leading from the vacuum-chamber and adapted to register with each "arm as the suction -nozzle carried thereby passes over the pivoted member of the mold,

a conveyor-belt, and a port leading from the compressed-air chamber and adapted to registerwith each arm as the suction-nozzle at,- tached thereto passes over the belt..

6 5. In an apparatus for making pulp articles, a series of traveling molds, means whereby during the movement of said molds an individual pulp article is formed by each mold, and a transferringdevice compri-sing a series of pneumatic pick-of`fs, means to bring the successive'pick-os into register with the successive molds whereby the shaped articles are removed from the molds successively, and a conveyor-belt adapted to convey the articles offs operating to remove the shaped articles from the molds in succession by means of suction, a conveyor-belt adapted to convey the articles to an oven,lthe construction being such that the successive pick-offs deposit the articles on the belt in dierent positions.

67. In an apparat-us for making pulp arti-- cles, a pneumatic transferring device includinto the same. 68. In an apparatus for making pulp articles, a pneumatic transferring device includ-v ing a hollow arm, a flexible suction-nozzle attached to the end thereof, means to bring the said suction-nozzle over the pulp article to be transferred, and means to simultaneously create a vacuum therein, whereby the article is held to the suction-nozzle -by suction, said suction nozzle having a reticulated guardacross the open end thereof, whereby the pulp article is prevented from being drawn into the' same. l,

69. A pneumatic transferring device, compricing a hollow arm, a flexible' bell-shaped suction-nozzle at the end thereof, a stifteningrring'at the open end of said suction-noz'- zle, a reticulated guard supported by said ring, and means to intermittently-create a vacuum in said arm.

70. A' neumatio'transferring device, comprising a hollow arm having at the end thereof a bell-shaped suction-nozzle of elastic ma terial, a stilening-riugin the Aopenend there` of, and a reticulated guard supported by said stieningring, and extendingac-ross the open end of the suction-nozzle, the lower end of the flexible material of the suction-nozzle extending below the stiffenin g-ring to form dexible lips, combined with means to intermittently create a-vacuum in said arm.

71. In an apparatus of the class described,

'a pneumatic transferring device comprising a hollow arm, a flexible bell-shaped suctionnozzle at the'end thereof, a stiffening-ring in the open end of the suctiomnozzle, a reticulated guard supported. by said ring, the end of the hollow armextendinginto the suction nozzle, and means tointermittently create a vacuum in said arm. i

72. In au apparatusfor making articles from pulp, a. mold having nesting faces bef tween which the article is formed, a vat to contain pulp, means yto dip one of said faces .into the pulp, and to subsequently close said faces together, and means to apply suction to the face which is .immersed in the pulp, while itis so immersed, the faces when closed together compressing all parts of the layer of pulp simultaneously.

73. In an apparatus for making articles from pulp, a mold having a molding-face and a compressing-face, s 'vat to contain pulp,

X means to klip said molding-(neefinto the pulp to receive a layer thereof, ancjlYsubsequently to close said faces together said` faces being e0 shaped that all parts of Lilepulp layer be- 5 tween them are acted upon simultaneously. 74. In an apparatus for making articles from pulp, a. molding-face, :i v; to contain pulp, means to move saidl face fntgand out from the pulp, means to deposi\\ailayer of lo pulp on'the molding-face, and a compressing face u-ctngsimulmueously0u all pats ofthe pulp deposited on' the molding-face to eompress seid pulpaml form the article between seid faces. s l

In testimony whereof I lmve'sgned my 15 name to this specification' in the presence of -two subscribing sitnesse's;

MARTIN L. KEYES.

XVitneSses:

LOUIS C. SMITH, GEO. W. GREGORY. 

